Monday, November 29, 2021

Travel bans are discrimination and injustice: South African president

Travel bans are discrimination and injustice: South African president
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has urged the countries to "immediately and urgently" reverse travel bans linked to the discovery of the new coronavirus variant Omicron, terming them scientifically "unjustified".

Dozens of nations from Europe to Asia have blacklisted South Africa and its neighbours since South African scientists flagged Omicron on November 25.

The flight bans have angered several African leaders.

"We call upon all those countries that have imposed travel bans on our country and our southern African sister countries to immediately and urgently reverse their decisions," Ramaphosa said in his first address to the nation following last week's detection of the new variant.

The World Health Organisation has labelled Omicron a variant of concern, while scientists are still assessing its virulence.

A "deeply disappointed" Ramaphosa argued that the ban was "not informed by science".

The countries that have already imposed travel restrictions on southern Africa include key travel hub Qatar, the United States, Britain, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and the Netherlands.

'Afrophobia'
Earlier Sunday, Malawian President Lazarus Chakwera accused Western countries of "Afrophobia" for shutting their borders.

And in Botswana, the other southern African country to detect the strain — among a group of foreign diplomatic visitors in the first instance — two ministers cautioned against "geo-politicising this virus".

"We are concerned that there seem to have been attempts to stigmatise the country where it was detected," Health Minister Edwin Dikoloti, said on Sunday.

The head of the WHO in Africa was equally worried.

"With the Omicron variant now detected in several regions of the world, putting in place travel bans that target Africa attacks global solidarity," said WHO regional director general Matshidiso Moeti in a statement.

Ramaphosa warned that the travel ban would "further damage the economies (and) undermine their ability to respond to and recover from the pandemic".

South Africa, the continent's most industrialised country, is struggling with slow economic growth and a more than 34% unemployment rate.

The travel curbs are another major blow to its key tourism industry, which had set high hopes on the upcoming southern hemisphere summer.

Ramaphosa blasted the G20 countries for abandoning commitments made at a meeting in Rome last month to support the recovery of the tourism sector in developing countries.

On Sunday, he added: "Instead of prohibiting travel, the rich countries of the world need to support the efforts of developing economies to access and manufacture enough vaccine doses for their people without delay.

Ramaphosa called on rich countries to stop fuelling vaccine inequality, describing jabs as the "most powerful tool" to limit Omicron's transmission.

He once again appealed to South Africans to get their shots and said the government was considering making vaccines mandatory for certain activities and locations in a bid to increase uptake.

"Vaccines do work," he said. "Vaccines are saving lives."

Just over 35%of adults in South Africa have been fully inoculated after a slow start to the vaccine campaign, with vaccine hesitancy widespread.

The country is Africa's worst hit by COVID, with around 2.9 million cases and 89,797 deaths reported to date.

Omicron is believed to be fuelling a rise in infections, with 1,600 new cases recorded on average in the past seven days compared to 500 the previous week.



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Can't play into the hands of those behind audio leaks: IHC CJ

 Islamabad High Court (IHC) Chief Justice Athar Minallah and Former Chief Justice of Pakistan Saqib Nisar
Islamabad High Court (IHC) Chief Justice Athar Minallah asked, in the hearing of a petition asking for a Commission of Inquiry to investigate an alleged audio clip of former Chief Justice Saqib Nisar, if the audio is correct, where is the original clip.

Having such an investigation could lead to anyone bringing an audio clip [to court] tomorrow and asking it be investigated, the IHC CJ said.

The petition has been filed in the IHC by Sindh High Court Bar President Salahuddin Ahmed and Syed Hyder Imam Rizvi, a member of the Judicial Commission.

At the start of the hearing, Justice Minallah asked the petitioner to state how the petition is admissible. "Against whom was the writ filed? Your application is related to the audio clip of the present service CJP," he said.

On the judicial inquiry, the petitioner responded that the petition was not about the present CJP but about the audio clip of a former CJP.

We will first issue a pre-admission notice to the attorney-general and talk about whether this application is admissible, the IHC CJ said.

During the case hearing on Monday, Justice Minallah said that the court will not engage in judicial activism and will only consider the facts as they appear in light of the law.

"The court wants to ensure that this does not open new floodgates," he added.

Justice Minullah stated that while the judiciary has faced significant challenges and the Bar has fought for the judiciary's independence, we now live in a society where social media is unregulated, to which the petitioner said that it is painful that the audio was leaked and is being discussed on social media too.

In response to the pre-admission notice, Advocate Salahuddin Ahmed stated that the Pakistan Bar Council has approved a decision, and that if the court finds it necessary, it should also send a notice to the bar council.

To this, Justice Minallah replied that the court respects him for the rule of law, "You are upset with some audio clips. Who has the authority to record Chief Justice Pakistan's audio tapes?" he asked.

"Did they [Bar Council] released it [audio tape] or did a man sitting in the United States?" asked the court.

The court stated that the alleged audiotape is related to a matter that is currently under appeal, and that the parties involved in the audiotape case have shown no interest in bringing it [the case] before the court.

The hearing of the case has been adjourned for a week.

 



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Pakistan announces massive vaccination programme to counter Omicron threat

Federal Minister of Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Asad Umar
Federal Minister of Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Asad Umar said that vaccination is the most effective way of protection against the new coronavirus variant, Omicron.

Umar, who is also the chief of National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC), while addressing a joint press conference flanked by Adviser to the Prime Minister on Health Dr Faisal Sultan in Islamabad, warned that the Omicron variant will inevitably come to Pakistan.

The minister announced that the NCOC has made some decisions regarding the highly contagious new variant which is spreading fast across the globe.

He said that the country has only a few weeks to contain the Omicron threat.

"Measures to control the [spread of] new variant in Pakistan are underway but vaccination is the only effective way of protection against Omicron,” said Umar.

Informing the media about the NCOC decisions, Umar said that the government would launch a massive vaccination campaign across the country within two to three days.

“We cannot stop Omicron but can reduce its effects by adopting preventive measures,” he added.

Talking about the government’s preventive measures, the minister said that they were tightening restrictions for the passengers coming from abroad and increasing testing capacity in high-risk areas.

He urged the masses to get themselves fully vaccinated against the coronavirus.

The minister further stated that the individual at high-risk of contracting the virus will be given a booster jab.

The Government of Sindh had decided to make a booster dose of the coronavirus vaccine compulsory after the discovery of the new COVID-19 variant, Daily Jang reported Sunday.

The Sindh Health Department had announced that a booster dose of Pfizer vaccine will be administered to fully vaccinated individuals.

Sindh Health Secretary Zulfiqar Ali Shah had told Daily Jang that the decision to administer fully vaccinated individuals a booster jab has been made in order to prevent the spread of the virus in the province.

He had said that consignments of the vaccine are being imported for the purpose.

"The booster jabs are currently being administered at Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre and Dow University of Health Sciences Ojha Campus but the scale of vaccination will be expanded across the province," Shah had said.

He had further stated that no fee will be charged for the administration of the booster jab.

Shah had requested the fully vaccinated individuals to get the booster jab and advised those who are yet to get the basic vaccination to get themselves immunised against the virus.

 



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Audio leak: 'Suppose tape is correct, who has the original clip?' IHC CJ

 Islamabad High Court (IHC) Chief Justice Athar Minallah and Former Chief Justice of Pakistan Saqib Nisar
Islamabad High Court (IHC) Chief Justice Athar Minallah asked, in the hearing of a petition asking for a Commission of Inquiry to investigate an alleged audio clip of former Chief Justice Saqib Nisar, if the audio is correct, where is the original clip.

Having such an investigation could lead to anyone bringing an audio clip [to court] tomorrow and asking it be investigated, the IHC CJ said.

The petition has been filed in the IHC by Sindh High Court Bar President Salahuddin Ahmed and Syed Hyder Imam Rizvi, a member of the Judicial Commission.

At the start of the hearing, Justice Minallah asked the petitioner to state how the petition is admissible. "Against whom was the writ filed? Your application is related to the audio clip of the present service CJP," he said.

On the judicial inquiry, the petitioner responded that the petition was not about the present CJP but about the audio clip of a former CJP.

We will first issue a pre-admission notice to the attorney-general and talk about whether this application is admissible, the IHC CJ said.

During the case hearing on Monday, Justice Minallah said that the court will not engage in judicial activism and will only consider the facts as they appear in light of the law.

"The court wants to ensure that this does not open new floodgates," he added.

Justice Minullah stated that while the judiciary has faced significant challenges and the Bar has fought for the judiciary's independence, we now live in a society where social media is unregulated, to which the petitioner said that it is painful that the audio was leaked and is being discussed on social media too.

In response to the pre-admission notice, Advocate Salahuddin Ahmed stated that the Pakistan Bar Council has approved a decision, and that if the court finds it necessary, it should also send a notice to the bar council.

To this, Justice Minallah replied that the court respects him for the rule of law, "You are upset with some audio clips. Who has the authority to record Chief Justice Pakistan's audio tapes?" he asked.

"Did they [Bar Council] released it [audio tape] or did a man sitting in the United States?" asked the court.

The court stated that the alleged audiotape is related to a matter that is currently under appeal, and that the parties involved in the audiotape case have shown no interest in bringing it [the case] before the court.

The hearing of the case has been adjourned for a week.

 



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Chitagong Test: Abid, Shafique put Pakistan in sight of victory against Bangladesh

Chitagong Test: Abid, Shafique put Pakistan in sight of victory against Bangladesh
Pakistani openersAbid Ali and Abdullah Shafique smashed an unbeaten fifty on Monday to put the Men In Green in a commanding position in the first Test against Bangladesh in Chittagong.

Set a target of 202, the visitors reached 109-0 at stumps and need only 93 runs on the final day on Tuesday.

Ali was batting on 56 at the end of the day's play, adding to his first-innings score of 133, while debutant Shafique was unbeaten on 53.

Fast bowler Shaheen Afridi earlier claimed 5-32 to help Pakistan bowl out Bangladesh for 157 runs in their second innings despite wicketkeeper-batsman Liton Das making a fighting fifty.

Resuming on 39-4, Bangladesh looked down and out once they lost Mushfiqur Rahim in the first over of the day, before Liton, who struck a hundred in the first innings, hauled the hosts back to respectability with 59 off 89 balls.

Afridi trapped Liton leg-before and then had Abu Jayed out for a duck to complete his fourth five-wicket Test haul.

Off-spinner Sajid Khan, who finished with 3-33, wrapped things up by dispatching Taijul Islam.

The hosts had got off to a positive start with Mushfiqur hitting a boundary off the first ball of the morning, bowled by Hasan Ali.

But two balls later he left a wrong delivery and departed for 16 after Hasan struck off-stump.

Liton joined overnight batsman Yasir Ali to prevent further collapse.

Just when they looked ready to prosper, Afridi's low bounce hit the helmet of Yasir, who retired hurt after making 36.

Liton survived on 26 when he was given out, caught at short leg off Sajid Khan.

The replay showed that the ball only hit his pad and was going down the leg.

Sajid was rewarded for his persistence as he trapped Mehidy Hasan leg-before for 11.

Substitute Nurul Hasan replaced Yasir after Mehidy's dismissal and barely survived a strong caught-behind appeal just before lunch.

Nurul heaved one at long-on to Faheem Ashraf off Sajid after the break, getting dismissed for 15, and Pakistan took little time to take the remaining wickets.

Bangladesh have failed to defeat Pakistan in any of their 10 previous encounters.



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Pakistan announces massive vaccination programme to counter Omicron threat

Federal Minister of Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Asad Umar
Federal Minister of Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Asad Umar said that vaccination is the most effective way of protection against the new coronavirus variant, Omicron.

Umar, who is also the chief of National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC), while addressing a joint press conference flanked by Adviser to the Prime Minister on Health Dr Faisal Sultan in Islamabad, warned that the Omicron variant will inevitably come to Pakistan.

The minister announced that the NCOC has made some decisions regarding the highly contagious new variant which is spreading fast across the globe.

He said that the country has only a few weeks to contain the Omicron threat.

"Measures to control the [spread of] new variant in Pakistan are underway but vaccination is the only effective way of protection against Omicron,” said Umar.

Informing the media about the NCOC decisions, Umar said that the government would launch a massive vaccination campaign across the country within two to three days.

“We cannot stop Omicron but can reduce its effects by adopting preventive measures,” he added.

Talking about the government’s preventive measures, the minister said that they were tightening restrictions for the passengers coming from abroad and increasing testing capacity in high-risk areas.

He urged the masses to get themselves fully vaccinated against the coronavirus.

The minister further stated that the individual at high-risk of contracting the virus will be given a booster jab.

The Government of Sindh had decided to make a booster dose of the coronavirus vaccine compulsory after the discovery of the new COVID-19 variant, Daily Jang reported Sunday.

The Sindh Health Department had announced that a booster dose of Pfizer vaccine will be administered to fully vaccinated individuals.

Sindh Health Secretary Zulfiqar Ali Shah had told Daily Jang that the decision to administer fully vaccinated individuals a booster jab has been made in order to prevent the spread of the virus in the province.

He had said that consignments of the vaccine are being imported for the purpose.

"The booster jabs are currently being administered at Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre and Dow University of Health Sciences Ojha Campus but the scale of vaccination will be expanded across the province," Shah had said.

He had further stated that no fee will be charged for the administration of the booster jab.

Shah had requested the fully vaccinated individuals to get the booster jab and advised those who are yet to get the basic vaccination to get themselves immunised against the virus.

 



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Leaders never bring their relatives to important positions: PM Imran

Leaders never bring their relatives to important positions: PM Imran
Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan on Monday has inaugurated academic blocks of Al-Qadir University in Jhelum.

Addressing the ceremony, the premier said that we have to act on the rules set by Riyasat-e-Madina for the development of the country. The nations who follow these rules will never face any challenge, he added.

It is to be mentioned here that the university, in these blocks, will provide world level education facilities for boys and girls in Islamic teachings, mysticism and modern scientific research.

The educational programme of Al-Qadir University will also focus on building leadership qualities in the students as well as their character in the light of Seerat-e-Tayyeba.

The existing capacity of the academic blocks is five hundred students, which will be enhanced in phases.



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Islamabad court dismisses Gill’s bail plea in sedition case

A District and Sessions court of Islamabad dismissed the post arrest bail petition of PTI leader Shahbaz Gill on Tuesday. Additional Dist...